FIELD REPORT

ON
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL
PARK

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 B.SC HONOURS PART-III (1+1+1NEW REGULATION)

ROLL NO :
REGISTRATION NO : 012-1121-1832-09
YEAR : IIIrd

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3
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Avinesh Das (Registration numer-012
-1121 -1832-09 of the session 2012-2013) student of
Department of Zoology, Asutosh College, Kolkata has
successfully completed his field report after his participation in
an extensive field work performed in the Kagiranga National
Park & Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary during the period of an
educational excursion at the said venue organized by the said
department from 15.03.2012 – 22.03.2012 under the guidance
of professors of Department of Zoology, Asutosh College,
kolkata for the partial fulfillment of award of Honours degree
in zoology during the year 2012-2013.

Guided by-

Dr. Ajay Kr Mandal

Dr .Dalia Mukharjee

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PROJECT REPORT ON THE FILD
STUDY

FOREST ECOSYSTEM
&
IT S
BIODIVERSITY

MARCH 15th 2012 to MARCH 22nd 2012

ORGANIZED BY

Dr. Supriya sengupya

Head of Department Of Zoology
Asutosh College

SUPERVISED BY
Dr. Sajal bhattacharya
Dr. Binayak Mishra
Dr. Dalia Mukharjee
Dr. Ajay Kr Mandal
Department Of Zoology
Asutosh College

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 PREFACE

“Field Reports” provides us a realistic view of the art & science of field based
wildlife study. It provides us a clear-cut concept about the status of biotic &
abiotic components upon which the ecosystem is dependent. The aim of this field
report about “forest ecosystem” & its biodiversity is to emphasize & explore the
co relation between the biotic & abiotic components of ecosystem along the
aspect of morphological & physiological characteristics of biotic components of
that concerned. For this purpose there are two renowned national parks i.e.,
Kagiranga National park & Pobitora Wildlife Santuary. During this expedition
some valuable scientific method were followed by the student of Department Of
Zoology,Asutosh College(undergraduate) such as cannopi studies, bird watching,
pitfall study, etc. for understanding the perpetuation of life within surrounding
environment. In addition to that behavioral activities of the living animals are also
emphasized in this report which is one of the nessessary key to judge the
functional role as well as the position in the tropic level within the food chain in
this concerned ecosystem of some regional mammals, insects &birds & butterfly,
etc. This field report also emphasizes the current initiatives, objectives taken by
the local Governing body about the conservation of certain species which are
already reached to the penultimate door of the extinction.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This project is based on the “Forest Ecosystem & Its

Biodiversity”.

We all know that to achieve success sincere work &

unconditional enthusiasm have no substituion. This is also
applicable in case of furnishing this field report. I am grateful
to my professor, my parents & my friends whose tireless
help & encouragement helped me to finish this project. I am
also thankful to my friends & my respected teachers and
non-teaching staffs who provided me with the necessary
documents & information. For the necessary photos I am
thankful to my friends & my professors. Last but not the
least I would like to mention the name of Taraknath Travels,
the travel agency which conducted smooth tour through the
span of 9 days and provided us with all the required
amenities.

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 CONTENTS

SERIAL SUBJECT PAGE NO.

NO.
1. AIMS & OBJECTS OF 9
PERFORMING FIELD WORK
2. Biodiversity 10-11
3. Our Tour Program 11-12
4. kaziranga National park 13-17
5. Quadrate Sampling 18-21
5a. Birds & animals 22-23
5b. Pobitora wildlife Sanctuary 24-27
5c. Pitfall sampling 28-31
5d. Light trap 32-34
5e. Birds & Animals 35-36
6. Forest profile 36-40
6a. Reference 41

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AIMS & OBJECTIVIES OF PERFORMING FIELD WORK

The forest ecosystem is defined differently by different

international & national organization as its delineation
depends on many parameters such as context, purpose,
scale, ecologically function, spatial & temporal
characteristics, cultural practice of native community, life
forms present in the ecosystem, structural properties
including leaf type & productivity. On the gene, species, or
ecosystem scale, biological diversity is one of the factors of
forest ecosystem used to adapt to constricting global
changes, particularly climatic variations. While in this sense
it can condition the very perpetuity of the forest, biodiversity
can be profoundly modified by how the forest and its natural
resources are being managed.
India with its position at the trifurcation of the Ethiopian,
Palaearitic & oriental realms, biography & its diversity of
environmental regions is one of the world’s top twelve mega
diversified countries. For this reason the extensive variation
of lives are most common in India upon which many tribal &
rural populations as well as certain urban population are
directly or indirectly dependent, so as a part of an
ecosystem around us we need to know the importance of
biodiversity.
From our field work we came to know a lot of things-

9
• An overall idea on the animal’s diversity in the national
park.
•Outline knowledge of the birds that exist in the place
nearby.
• The endemic species & methods of conservation.
•The various behavioral aspects of different animals under
different condition.
•Very little concept about migratory birds.
•Some knowledge about insects present in this area.

BIODIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION
Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or
for the entire earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of the
biological system. The biodiversity found on earth today consist of many million
of distinct biologically species which is the product of nearly 3.5 billion years of
evolution.

ETYMOLOGY
The term was used by wildlife scientist & conservationist Raymond F.
Dasmann in a lay book advocating nature conservation. The term’s contracted
from biodiversity may have been coined by W.G.Rosen in 1985 while planning
the National Forum on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research
Council (NRC) which was to be held in 1986,& the first appeared in a publication
in 1988 when entomologist E.O.Wilson used it as the title of the proceedings of
that forum.

DEFINITION

Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals & micro
organisms, there genes & the ecosystem of which they are a part. It is home to
more than one million species of plants & animals, many of which are found
nowhere else in the world.

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 Biodiversity

Genetic Species Ecosystem

Diversity Diversity Diversity

Ω TYPES : –
◘ GENETIC DIVERSITY –Genetic Diversity is a level of biodiversity that
refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic make up of a
species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency
of genetic characteristics to vary.

◘SPECIES DIVERSITY –
Species diversity is an index that incorporates the number of species in an area &
also their relative abundance. It is generally a much more useful value than
species richness.

◘ ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
Ecosystem diversity refers to the diversity of a place at the level of ecosystems. It
is contrasted with biodiversity, which refers to variation in species rather than
ecosystems.

◘THREAT-
During the last century erosion of biodiversity has been increasingly observed
studies show that 30% of natural species will be extinct by 2050. Of these about
one eighth of the known plant species are threatened with extinction. Some
estimates put the loss add up to 140,000 species year (based on species-area
theory) a subject to discussion.
The factors that threaten biodiversity have been variously categorized.
Jared Diamond describes an “Evil Quartet” of habitat distribution, overkill,
intruder’s species & secondary extensions. Edward O. Willson prefers the
acronym HIPPO, standing for Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution,
Human over Population, & Over harvesting. The most authoritative classification
in use today is that of IUCN’s classification of Direct Threats adopted by most
major international conservation organizations such as the US Nature
Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, & Birdlife
International.

TOUR PROGRAMME OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

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Date of journey : 15th March,2012
Train Nme : Sarighat Express
Departure Time : 15:50 Hrs from Howrah Station
Reporting Place & Time: 14.00 Hrs from Under The Big Clock Of Howrah Station
{old complex}
Journey Coach No : S-12-65

DETAILS TOUR PROGRAMME

15.03.2012: Start from Howrah Station at 15.50 Hrs by 12345 up Saraighat

Express to Guwahati station.

16.03.2012: reaching Guwahati station at 09.30Hrs. start from Guwahati station

at 10.00Hrs by bus or trax to Kaziranga National Park. Reaching Kaziranga
National Park at 17-00 Hrs & transfer at Hotel Santi Lodge.

17.03.2012: morning coverage Kaziranga national park(western zone) by zypsy

from 7.00hrs to 10.00hrs.Afternoon fieldwork & bird watching.

18.03.2012: morning coverage Kaziranga national park(central zone) by zypsy

from 7.00hrs to
10.00hrs.Afternoon fieldwork & bird watching

19.03.2012: start from Kaziranga at 6.30hrs by busto Pobitora Wildlife

sanctuary.Reacing Pobitora at 11.30hrs & transfer at kunki resort

20.03.2012: coverage of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary by zypsy.After breakfast

fieldwork & bird watching. Night stay at same Resort.

21.03.2012: start from resort at 09-00 Hrs by trax to Guwahati Station. Reaching
Station at 11-00 Hrs. Start from Guwahati Station at 11-00Hrs by 12346 down
Saraighat express to Howrah station.

22.03.2012: reaching Howrah station at 05-10 Hrs.

THE TOUR ENDS

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Kaziranga National Park

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OUR HOTEL

MAP OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

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200 45’ to 210 2’ North latitude and 800 5’ to 800 15’ East longitude.

The administrative head quarter of KNP is at Bokakhat

(Golaghat district), which is located at a distance of 238 km
from Guwahati (State capital). All the existing range
head quarters (Burapahar, Baguri, Kohora and Agoratoli) in
the park can be reached by road from the National Highway
(NH) 37, which runs south of the Park boundary.(See map
1). Karbi Anglong hills adjoin the park on the south and
constitute an ecological extension of the park.
The Park is of rough oval shape, approximately 50 km long
and 16 km wide at its broadest point. It lies on the south
bank of the river Brahmaputra and its southern boundary
follows for the most part the river Mora Diphlu that runs
parallel to National Highway NH 37 (the main arterial
highway in Assam). Two other rivers, Diphlu and Bhengrai
flow through it and a number of small streams originating in
the Karbi Anglong hills drain into these rivers and the beels
(water bodies) in the park.

Climate:

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Typical sub-tropical climate prevails in the Kaziranga
National Park. The temperature in the park varies from 38°C
(maximum) to 7°C (minimum). Annual average rainfall is
1,320 mm.
Animals
One horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
Rhinoceros is the most famous animal of the park. The park
reputedly holds the largest single population (1500+) of one
horned rhinoceros in the world.
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
The park has the highest density of tigers in the country.
Swamp Deer (Cervus duvauceli)
The park holds the largest population (500+) of the eastern
swamp deer in the country.
Wild Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
The park holds around 50% of the global population (1000+)
of wild buffalo.
Elephant (Elephas maximus)
There are around 900 elephants in the park.
Others
Other notable mammals reported from the park include hog
deer (Axis porcinus),
barking deer (Muntiacus muntjack), wild boar (Sus scrofa),
sambhar (Cervus
unicolor), leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Ursus
ursinus), pangolin ( Manis
spp) and hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock). More than
400 bird species (terrestrial and water fowl) including a good
diversity of raptors have been documented in the park.

CHECK LIST OF MAMMALS WATCHED IN KAZIRANGA

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LOCATION- KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

NAME SCINTIFIC NAME NUMBER

SWAMP DEER Artiodactyle cervidae
INDIAN RHINOS Perrissodanctyl
rthinocerotidae 
ASIN ELEPHANT Proboscidea elephantidae
WILD BUFFEL Bison bonasus
WILD BOAR Sus scrofa

CHECK LIST OF BIRDS WACHED IN KAZIRANGA

LOCATION 1: DURING JUNGAL SAFARI

NAME SCINTIFIC NAME

WHITE WAGTAIL
LESSER WHISTLING DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor
GREY HEADED FISHING EGALE
RED VENTED BULBUL
WHITE SPOTTED KINGFISHER
ASIAN OPEN BILL STORK Anastomus oscitans
LESSES ADJUVENT STORK
BEE EATER
PELICAN

LOCATION 2: DURING JANGAL SAFARI

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NAME SCINTIFIC NAME

BLUE KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis

JUNGLE CROW Corvus macrorhynchos
ROSE RING PARROT Pavo cristatus
SNAKE BIRD Pernis ptilorhyncus
SPOTTED DOVE Streptopelia chinensis
BLACK DRONGO Dicrurus macrocercus
GREY HORNBILL Ocyceros birostris
COMMON BABLER Turdoides caudatus
WHITE MAYNA
BLACK BULBUL Hypsipetes leucocephalus

STUDY OF THE COMMUNITY BY QUADRATE METHOD

DEFINITION
Quadrate sampling is a statistical technique for analyzing distribution. The area to
be analyzed is divided into cells of equal size and the number of points occurring
within each cell ids determine. This distribution is then compared with a
hypothetical or expected distribution based on the theory being investigated. It

18
should be noted that the size and the shape of the cell may influenced the
observed distribution.

CHARECTERISTIC
1. If we want to know what kinds of plant and animals are in a particular
habitat and how many there are of each species, it is usually impossible to
go and count each and every one present.
2. The problem is usually solved by taking a number of samples from around
the habitat, making the necessary assumption that these samples are
representative of habitat in general- samples are usually taken using a
standard sampling unit of some kind.
3. This ensures that all of the samples represent the same area or volume
(water) of the habitat each time. The usual sampling unit is a Quadrate.
4. Quadrates normally consist of a square frame, the most frequently used
size being 1m2.
5. The purpose of using a quadrate is to enable comparable samples to be
obtained from areas of consisting size and shape.
6. Rectangular quadrates and even circular quadrate have been used in
some surveys. It does not really matter what shape of quadrate is used,
provided it is a standard sampling unit and its shape and measurements
are stated in any write up.
7. The size of a quadrate can vary starting from 1m2 to 100m2 and above.

REQUIREMENTS:
A place of string, four nails, hammer, notebook, pencil, graph sheet, cello
tape.

PROCEDURE:
1. First select an area which is rich in species diversity of vegetation.
2. Then with the help of a piece of string and with four nails make a square of
an area of 10x10 meter2.
3. Now, in a graph sheet plot the different individuals of various species at
different distances.

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4. Now note down the various types of species present in the particular area
and also count the total numbers of individuals of each species.
5. The status of different individuals may be different, that is, it may be either
a fully grown tree or a growing tree.

STUDY OF THE COMMUNITY BY QUADRATE

METHOD IN THE FIELD, AT KAZIRANGZA
NATIONAL PARK

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QUADRATE NO. - 1
PLACE- KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK
Sl. Distance from Canopy towards
No. X axis Y axis East West South North
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m)
1 0.3 7.00 2.00 1.10 3.90 3.10
2 1 9.5 4.20 1.30 2.00 3.70
3 7.1 6.7 1.40 4.40 3.70 2.50
4 8 5.4 1.90 2.40 2.60 2.60
5 7.80 1.8 3.30 1.20 2.50 3.70
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF QUADRATE NO 1

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Birds & Animals Seen At Kaziranga
National Park

COMMON KINGFISHER RHINO

Spotted deer Bar-headed Goose

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 DOVE ELEPHANT

Black Drongo Eagal

buffalo

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 BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF POBITORA
WILDLIFE SANTUARY

INTRODUCTION
50 km east of Guwahati on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, in the
District of Morigaon,Assam situates the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary . It was
originally a grazing Reserve (P .G.R.) before 1971 providing grazing facilities to
the surrounding villages together with permanent Bullalo "Khuties".Finally, during
1971, two P.G.Rs covering an area of 1,584.62 hect. were constituted into a
Reserve Forest vide govt. notification No. FOR/SETT/542165/54, dt.
8111/71.Due to increase of rhino population, more areas were subsequently
added to the Pobitora Reserve Forest and was declared as Pobitora Wildlife
Sanctuary vide Govt . notification No FWR19/87139 dt.16/7187. Pobitora proved
to be a suitable homeland for rhino and its population showing considerable
increase in last decade . Considering this the Sanctuary area is extended to 38 .
84 km2. vide govt . notification No . FRS 19/87/152 dt. 17/3198 .

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 Our Hotel

BASIC INFORMATION
The climate of the Pobitora W.L. Sanctuary can be treated as sub-tropical
monsoon type with three district season. The dry mild winter which experience
occasional showers i .e. Nov. to Mid Feb. This period has an average maximum
temperature of 20° C and average minimum temperature of 9° C . The humidity at
this time is 40% . This is followed by a humid and windy summer i .e. from mid
Feb to May with maximum temperature of 35° C and minimum of 12° C . The
latter part of this period experiences rains.
The rainy season, i.e. from May to Sept., experiences an average rainfall of
2000mm. This period is both hot and humid. The maximum average temp being
25° C and humidity is above 95%.
The entire area is part of the Brahmaputra flood plains . Being low-lying it is
subject to annual floods.The soil is termed as fertile clayey-loam with silt.
The Garanga Beel and Haduk Beel are the perennial sources of water in the
Sanctuary. The sallow nallahs also scattered all over the sanctuary. Though
there is no any water scarcity in the sanctuary after heavy flood this year all the
wetlands were heavily silted .

 FLORA AND FAUNA

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The vegetation of the sanctuary is classified in three distinguished forest type .
1) Eastern wet alluvial grassland
2) Barringtonia swamp, Forest.
3) Low alluvial savannah (Salmania-Albizzia) wood land
Due to excessive grazing for years together, a 'PAN' has already been formed on
the soil for which growth of grasses inside the Sanctuary are stunted
comparatively than similar areas in out-side .The intensity of grazing is highest
during the winter season . An area of 1 km2 area was fenced up during 1990 for
releasing Cerves eldi eldi (Manipur brow-antlered dear) at the heart of the
Sanctuary . As a result of protection from grazing, better growth of grasses and
profuse regeneration of Albeggia procera (Koroi) could be seen in this area .A thin
layer of tree belt covers the southern corner of the Sanctuary along the bank of
Garanga Beel. This part is comparatively a bit higher then the rest of the area .
Proper survey of growing stock of the flora has not yet been taken out . Roughly,
the present land use may be estimated as follows:
a) Tree land 13.09%
b) grass land 72.25%
c) Perennial water logged area 10.61%
d) Swampy area 4.05%
The following species are commonly found on the Sanctuary:
Aibezia procera, Salmainia malabaricum, Baringtonia acutenguia, Strabler asper,
Strew/la vilosa ,
Triwia mediflora, Casca fistula, Tetramilis nudiflora, Legestromea flosregance, Ugenia
spp, Ficus spp,
Lenea grandis, Toona ciliata, Erianthus ravanae, Saecharum elephantimus, Imparata
cylindrica ,
Pollinia ciliata, Phongmites kakra, Saeherum munja, Arundo dank, cynodon doctylon,
Lopome areptans, Enhydra fluctuans etc.

RHINOCEROS UNICORNIS ( POPULATION

DYNAMICS)
When Pobitora was declared as R .F. in the year 1971 only 8 rhino's were
sighted . After introduction of forest management in Pobitora the rhino population
started increasing visibly up to 56 . In 1987 scientific grassland management was
introduced in these areas too following the good result of the system yielded at
Kaziranga National Park and Orang Wildlife Sanctuary..In a span of 25 years, the
rhino population in Pobitora has increased from 8 to 68 . However the are a
under present management is only 16 km2, and has remained the same. Though
the area is extended up to 38 .84 km 2 the rest of the areas are yet to be handed
over to forest department .

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 “ LIST OF ANIMALS FOUND IN
POBITORA WILDLIFE SANTUARY”
NAME SCINTIFIC NAME
RHINO Perrissodanctyl
rthinocerotidae
SAMBER Cerves unicolor
BUFFELO Bison bonasus
NIL GAI Boselaphus tragocamelus
WILD DOG Canis alpines
SLOTH BEAR Melursus ursinus
WILD BEAR
INDIAN GAUR Bos gaurus
TIGER Panthera tigris

LIST OF BIRDS FOUND IN POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCHUARY

LOCATION: Pobitora wildlife sanctuary.
.

NAME SCINTIFIC NAME

INDIAN ROLLER Coracias bengalensis
BLUE KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
JUNGLE CROW Corvus macrorhynchos
BLACK IBIS Pseudibis papillose
ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD Pernis ptilorhyncus
SPOTTED DOVE Streptopelia chinensis
BLACK DRONGO Dicrurus macrocercus
GREY HORNBILL Ocyceros birostris
COMMON BABLER Turdoides caudatus
ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBBIN Copsychus saularis
BLACK BULBUL Hypsipetes leucocephalus
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER Halcyon smyrnensis
INDIAN TREEPIE Dendrocitta leucogaster
RACKET-TAILED DRONGO Dicrurus paradiseus
GREATER COUCAL Centhopus sinensis
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET Psittacula krameri

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YELLOW FOOTED GREEN PIGEON Treron phoenicoptera
RED-WATTLED LAPWING Vanellus indicus
CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE Spizaetus cirrhatus
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE Spilornis chella
ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER Terpsiphone paradise
WHITE THROATED THRUS Zoothera citina cyanotus
COMMON MYNA Acridotherus tristis
LESSER WHISTLING DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor

COMMENT:
 Very high species density.
 During morning animal movement is higher than afternoon.
 A gross knowledge of ecosystem has developed well through this field
work.

PITFALL TRAPPING
 DEFINITION:
Pitfall trapping is an effective name implies, involves the capture of ground
surface-active arthropods that fall into a pit like trap sunk into the ground.

 DESCRIPTION:
1. Pitfall trapping is an effective and cheap way of qualitatively surveying the
ground surface active arthropods in grassland, and allows for comparison of
assemblages in different habitats.
2. Pitfall trapping is a good method of sampling because of its simplicity.
However, this method of trapping must be used with discretion. Traps can be
glass, plastic or metal containers, and a re sunk into the ground so that the
mouth of the trap is level with the soil surface.

 STRUCTURE & COMPOSITION:

1. Pitfall traps come in a variety of sizes and designs. Pitfall traps come in two
main forms; dry and wet pitfall traps.
2. Dry pitfall traps consist of a container (tins, jars or drums) buried in the ground
with its rim at surface level used to trap mobile animals that fall into it.

28
3. The openings are covered by a sloped stone or lid, or another objects to
reduces the amount of rain and debris entering the trap, and prevent trapped
animals from being drowned (when it rains) or overheated (during the day) as
well as to keep out predators.
4. Wet pitfall traps contain a solution designed to trap, kill and preserve an
animal or several animals. The fluids used in these traps include; formalin
(10% formaldehyde), mentholated spirits, alcohol, tri-sodium phosphate and
picric acid.
 EFFECIENCY:
1. Different types of trap vary greatly in effectiveness, with round-mouth traps
not subject to any directionally in sampling.
2. Leaf traps are to collect only ground-active arthropods, then plywood or
opaque plastic covers (15-30 cm) should be used, raised 2.5 cm off the
ground over the traps. These covers should be weighted stone.
3. These covers should be weighted with a stone and supported by 7.5-55 cm
square wooden or hollow aluminum rods, set all right angles around the trap
mouth to form an X, these supports rods should touch the mouth of the trap
for efficient capture of specimen.
4. Support rods arranged in this fashion not only support the cover firmly, it also
intercepts animals moving near the trap and funnel then into the trap. The
covers serve to keep out debris and prevent the entry of animals and
precipitation from above.

 PRECAUTION:
1. If pitfall traps used for live trapping, or are baited, they must be serviced at
frequent intervals to avoid spillage or predation within the trap.
2. Sampling over periods longer than one or two days requires use of a
preservative in the trap. If traps are serviced at weekly intervals, a salt
solution with soap can be used.
3. At least five traps should be in filled at each sampling site. Traps placed in a
grid can provide an impressive set of data.
4. Content o traps can be collected by straining the preservative through a fine
mesh sieve and rinsing the contents (if the strainer into a specimen content
with ethanol).

PITFALL SAMPLING ACTIVITY

 PURPOSE:

To catch animals that crawl through the leaf litter. These traps are usually left for
several days allowing for the capture of nocturnal animals.
 MATERIALS(PER TRAP):

1. Plastic disposable drinking cups.

29
2. Piece of thin wood or particle board, approximately 12X12 cm.
3. Small amount of propylene glycol (“safe” antifreeze), about 25 ml.
4. Trowel or bulb planter.

 PROCEDURE:
1. Remove leaf litter from a small area. Dig a hole just big enough for the cups,
one nested inside of the other. Leave the top edge of the cups level with soil.
2. Pour about 2 cm of propylene glycol into the cups.
3. Lay the piece of wood over the cup, with sticks, rocks, or nails under the
corners to hold this cover up about ¼” above the cup. (The purpose of the
cover is to keep small mammals out of yours traps.) Put a stick or stone on
the top of the cover to hold it in place. Redistribute the litter around the trap.
4. Leave traps for a few days.
5. Collect specimen from the traps by pouring the propylene glycol through a tea
strainer or pick animals out with forceps.
6. Store collected animals in alcohol. Be sure to label your container.
7. Identify and count animals to clean alcohol for storage.
PLACEMENT AND NUMBER OF TRAPS:
One recommended protocol (Albert T. Finnamore Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
at the Provincial Museum of Alberta) for obtaining 85% of the arthropods possible
to trap in pitfalls is to set up 8 to10 traps in a 10 meter circle. Thus, one could
place the tree in the center, with 8 to10 traps spaced evenly in a circle five meters
out from the tree.

30
PREPARATION OF PITFALL TRAPS

31
INSECTS FOUND IN PITFALL TRAP

INSECT NUMBER
small ant 19
big ant 19
Large spider 25
Small spider 20
Medium spider 15
Mosquito 13
House fly 4
Contiped 1
Small fly 2

INSECT TRAPPING BY USING LIGHT TRAP

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 INTRODUCTION:
Light trap make use of a light source to attract light-flying insects. They are
especially useful to monitor certain species of moths. Catching moths in the light
trap will tail the farmer that is time to start searching for eggs or caterpillars in the
field.

 DESCRIPTION:
1. Different light sources can be used, ranging from simple oil lamps to different
types of electric bulb.
2. Special light sources called black-light have been developed and particularly
efficient because of the type of light they emit.
3. They should be considered in situation when other light sources (houses,
street lights etc.) are competing with the trap.
4. While the light sources attract the insect, the traps need another device to kill
or capture them. Often this is a container with water that is placed under light
source.
5. The moths are circle around the light will drop in the water that is placed
under the light source.
6. It is recommended to add a bit of soap to the water. Instead of water, it is also
possible to use sticky plates.
 USES:
1. Light traps are generally used a monitoring tools and will not have much
impacts as a control measure.
2. Daily observation of traps will show that not only pest insect but also some
natural enemies may be caught.
3. If the traps appear to kill large number of beneficial insects it is better to take
out the traps
 PRECAUTIONS:
1. The efficiency of traps depends partly the mobility of the insects. Therefore
traps are usually more effective in catching adult insects.
2. When traps are used for monitoring, this is often done to predict outbreaks of
a pest species and to assist the farmers in making decision.
3. Farmers will have to use the data from traps in combination with other
observation to make crop management decision.
4. When traps are used as a tool to control pests, it should be understood that
trap efficiency is related to population density.

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PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT TRAPPING
 PLACE: POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCHUARY

 LOCATION: IN BACK SIDE LAWN OF HOTEL

 OBSERVATION:
1. A tray used in this light trap. The tray was filled with soap water.
2. After 12 hours. The tray is checked.
3. The tray contains many insects which were died in the soap water which was
administrated in the light trap.
4. After sequential removal of the insects from the soap water & they are
preserved properly.
5. The insect which were trapped by the light trap, mainly Coleoptera.

INSECTS FOUND

Lepidoptera(grey) - 18

Hymenoptera - 154

Coleopteran - 122

Dipteral - 53

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 LIGHT TRAPPING

BIRDS SEEN AT POBITORA WILDLIFE SANTUARY

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Grey hornbill(Ocyceros birostris) Changeable Hawk Eagle

Jungle Babbler(Turdoides striatus) Indian roller(Coracias bengalensis)

Common Sand Plover Wagtail

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ANIMALS SEEN AT NAGZIRA WILDLIFE
SANTUARY

gaur Indian Elephant

Tiger Sambar(Cerves unicolor)

Rose ring parakeet Rhino

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 FOREST PROFILE

STUDY OF VEGETATION BY LINE TRANSECT METHOD

LOCATION- BUFFER AREA OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

 DEFINITION
A transect is a path along which one records and counts occurrence of the
phenomenon of study (e.g. plants nothing each instance).

 DESCRIPTION:
1. It requires an observer to move along a fixed path and to count occurrence
along the path and, at the same time, obtain the distance of the object from
the path.
2. This results in an estimate of the area covered, an estimate of the way in
which detect ability increases from probability 0 to 1 as one approaches the
path.
3. Using these two figures one can arrive at an estimate of the actual density of
objects.
4. The estimation of the abundance of biological population (such as terrestrial
at mammal species) can be achieved using a number of different types of
methods, such as strip transects, line transact, bull transect, point transects
and curved line transects.

 IMPORTANT FACTORS:
1. A transect line can be made using a nylon rope marked and numbered at 0.5,
or 1 m intervals, all the way along its length.
2. This is laid across the area one wish to study. The position of the transect line
very important and it depends on the direction of the environmental gradient
one wish to study.
3. It should be thought about carefully before it is placed. One may otherwise
end up without clear requite because the line has been wrongly placed.
4. A line transect is carried out by unrolling the transect line along the gradient
identified. The species touching the line may be recorded along the whole
length of the line (continuous sampling.)
5. The data is displayed in the Rum of a diagram, using symbols for different
species, which are drawn to scale.

 REQUIREMENT

Measuring tape, scale, notebook, pencil, graph sheet, cello tape.

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 PROCEDURE:
1. Run the measuring tape across the vegetation.
2. Note down the species touching the tape in alternate segments of suitable
length.
3. A number of transects may be laid down all random across the field.
4. If three plants of any species are touching the segment, the numerical
strength of that species on that sampling unit will be three individuals.
5. Now, in a graph sheet the height of each individual of different species on Y
axis and the inter distance between each individual of different species on X
axis are plotted.

MESURMENT OF FOREST PROFILE

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TABULAR REPRESENTATION OF MEASUREMENT OF FOREST PROFILE

Sl. No. Distance Canopy towards

from Height
Y axis (m)
(m) East West South North
(m) (m) (m) (m)
1 7.00 1.00 1.50 1.00 1.00 13
2 9.50 2.50 2.50 4.50 2.50 17
3 6.70 0.50 1.00 0.50 0.80 10.50
4 5.40 3.00 7.00 5.80 6.60 23.00
5 1.80 0.50 0.00 1.00 9.60 14.2
LOCATION- KAZIRANGA

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41
 Reference
Professors-

Dr Dalia Mukharjee {Asutosh College}

Dr Supriya Sengupta {Asutosh College}

Dr Ajay Kumar Mandal {Asutosh College}

Prof. Manas Mahapatra {Secretary,Taraknath

Travels,Director:Releted to Wild Life}

Books Consulted-

Insect of India – Tapan sengupta

Hand book of Indian wetland birds & their conservation

– Arun kumar

Oxford book of insect – J.bee,whitelay,park

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